Jiva
Goswami is the most prolific, voluminous and versatile writer of
the six Goswamis of Vrindavana. He composed about 400,000 verses
of commentaries, abstracts and at least twenty authoritative
works on the science of bhakti. Acknowledged as one of the
greatest philosophers in all times, the Benares Hindu University,
has dedicated an entire department to study the works of Jiva
Goswami. He also initiated the systematic preaching of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's mission by training and dispatching luminaries like
Narottama Dasa Thakura, Shrinivasa Acarya and Shyamananda Pandit.

Jiva
Goswami (1513-1598) is the youngest of the six Goswamis of
Vrindavana. His father, Anupama is the younger brother of Rupa
and Sanatana Goswami and was initiated by Caitanya Mahaprabhu in
Ramakeli. On the instructions of the Lord, Rupa and Anupama left
Ramakeli and later received many instructions from Him in Prayaga
(Allahabad). Later when travelling to Puri through Bengal,
Anupama left his body on the banks of the river Ganges. While
Jiva Goswami did not get the privilege of being instructed
directly by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he was greatly inspired by his
illustrious uncles in Vrindavana. As he grew, his body acquired
all the symptoms of a Maha-purush or an empowered divinity.

He had
lotus like eyes, high nose and forehead, large shoulders and
chest, hands reaching to his knees and the effulgence of molten
gold. He was a child prodigy having mastered grammar, poetry,
logic and scriptures at a very young age. As Jiva grew into the
teens he displayed a burning passion for spiritual enlightenment.
Jiva had no interest in worldly affairs and constantly hoped to
join his two uncles in Vrindavan. At this time he began to
worship the deity form of Krishna-Balarama, seeing Them as
non-different from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. In
order to fulfill his burning desire to visit Navadvipa, Jiva had
to resort to tricking his reluctant mother.

On the
pretext of visiting their ancestral home in nearby Fatehbad, Jiva
proceeded to Navadvipa. In Navadvipa he met Lord Nityananda
Prabhu. Jiva immediately recognized Him as non-different from
Lord Balarama, and surrendered to His Lotus feet for instruction.
Nityananda Prabhu took Jiva to the many sites where the pastimes
of the Caitanya Mahaprabhu had been enacted. He took Jiva to meet
Sacidevi, the mother of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Here Jiva also had
the privilege to honor prasadam prepared by Vishnupriya, the
widow of the Lord. In this way Jiva was visited all the nine
islands of Navadvipa. When his mother passed away Jiva resolved
to live the life of a recluse in Vrindavan under the guidance of
his two elevated uncles. Following the instructions of Lord
Nityananda, Jiva first went to Benares to seek out Madhusudana
Vachaspati, an important disciple of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya.

In a
relatively short time, Jiva became well versed in all aspects of
Vedanta philosophy and acquired the reputation of an eminent
scholar. Following the instructions of Lord Nityananda, Jiva now
proceeded to Vrindavana. By the time Jiva reached Vrindavana, he
was twenty years old and was greeted joyfully by his uncles Rupa
and Sanatana Goswami. Jiva first approached his elder uncle
Sanatana Goswami for initiation into the Caitanyaite Vaishnava
line. Out of humility, Sanatana Goswami referred Jiva to his
younger brother Rupa Goswami. Before Rupa initiated Jiva, he
tested his mettle for one year, by having him perform all kinds
of menial service. Finally satisfied that Jiva in addition to
being a brilliant scholar also had self-control, humility and
respect, Rupa Goswami accepted him as his disciple. Some months
passed since Jiva's initiation, and a travelling scholar called
Rupanarayana Saraswati arrived in Vrindavana.

He was a
vastly learned scholar, a 'digvijaya' (one who had conquered in
all directions) but, unfortunately his pride was as vast as his
knowledge. He was in the habit of travelling to all places,
defeating scholars and then getting them to sign a letter of
defeat. Having heard of the fame of Rupa and Sanatana Goswami, he
had come to challenge them to a debate. In the spirit of true
Vaishnava humility, both Rupa and Sanatana simply accepted
Rupanarayana as their superior and signed the letter of defeat
without engaging in any debate. Rupanarayana then proceeded to
challenge Jiva, who was also famous as a scholar. Incensed at the
boasting of the vain scholar, Jiva accepted the challenge and
defeated him in a debate that lasted for seven days on the banks
of the river Yamuna. Rupa Goswami was very upset at this display
of non-Vaishnava behavior by Jiva. He severely chastised him and
actually banished him from Vrindavana. Jiva accepted the rebuke
of his spiritual master, and lived for one year in Mathura,
following a vow of silence, living in great austerities in the
hollow of a tree and eating very frugally.

Finally
by the mercy of Sanatana Goswami, Rupa forgave Jiva and accepted
him back into Vrindavana. The behavior of Jiva Goswami is
exemplary in both respects. As a Vaishnava one is supposed to be
meek and humble when one's own honor is insulted, but should not
tolerate any disrespect to his spiritual master or Krishna. Jiva'
s victory was not for personal prestige but to refute
Rupanarayana's unfounded claims of superiority over Rupa and
Sanatana Goswami. But at the same time he unwaveringly accepted
the chastisement of his spiritual master. Jiva Goswami inspired
many great kings of his time. Prominent amongst them was Akbar,
the Moslem emperor of India.

Having
heard of the fame of Jiva Goswami, he personally came and took
many instructions from him. So impressed was Akbar, that at the
request of Jiva Goswami, he played a major role in establishing
prominent temples of worship in Vrindavana, specially the
Radha-Damodar temple. The literary contributions of Jiva Goswami
are too many to list here. Prominent amongst them is
Hari-namamrita-vyakarana, which provides a unique way of learning
Sanskrit grammar through the names of Krishna. His masterful
Shat-sandarba is a six volume literary jewel that fulfills not
only the goals of his prestigious uncles and Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
but of the entire world. Spiritual knowledge in its purest form
is delivered to the fullest extend in these literary masterpiece,
which is know being closely scrutinized by scholars all over the
world.

Jiva
Goswami also wrote elaborate commentaries on the works of his
uncles, and made the knowledge accessible to every one. He worked
hard to preserve the volumes of Vaishnava literature and with the
help of Emperor Akbar, masterminded the construction of Granth
Bhandara or a library of scriptures. Jiva Goswami was the
personification of all Vaishnava qualities. Brilliant yet humble,
he dedicated his life to the instructions of his spiritual master
and Vaishnava teachers. He was a crucial link between the
immediate disciples of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who wrote and
explained the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga, and the next generation
of Vaishnavas who took these transcendental teachings and
preached them to the world.